Road blocks for ride services

Lawmakers nationwide are grappling with how to regulate smartphone-enabled ride services like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar. Some bar them outright; others want them to comply with taxi rules, which the services say are too strict. Several states and cities may emulate California’s model, in which the Public Utilities Commission crafted guidelines to give the services a green light.

No go

City or State

These cities don’t allow UberX, Lyft and Sidecar to operate

Austin

Services cannot operate.

Las Vegas

Services cannot operate.

Miami

Blocked Uber with a requirement for $80 minimum fares. Uber is reported to be pushing a bill to move regulation to the state level.

New Orleans

Taxicab Bureau has banned the companies from offering rides.

St. Louis

Its regulations “are clearly meant to protect existing companies,” Uber said in September, adding that it hadn’t figured out how to enter the market.

Slow down

City or State

These cities want the companies to comply with taxi rules— which the companies say are too restrictive.

Detroit

Michigan Dept. of Transportation and Detroit say UberX drivers should comply with “drivers for hire” rules.

Milwaukee

Uber launched in February. City leaders say it is flouting the law by not complying with rules for cab companies.

Minneapolis/St. Paul

Regulators have vowed to enforce taxi regulations against Lyft, which just launched operations. Matters at a standoff for two weeks, while Lyft rides are free.

Collision course

City or State

This city is working on rules that would make it prohibitive for the companies to do business.

Seattle

City council on verge of limiting companies to 150 “active” cars at a time at March 17 meeting.

Green light ahead?

City or State

These cities and states are working on frameworks to allow the companies to operate, in many cases similar to California’s “transportation network company” guidelines.

Arizona

House Bill 2273 would mandate that “rideshare” cars be registered, inspected and carry commercial liability insurance; drivers would have to pass background checks and drug tests. However, the networks would be exempt from licensing, testing, and certification requirements.

Boston

New Mayor Martin Walsh, preparing to overhaul the city’s transportation policies, says “popular, effective” Uber should not be condemned. Taxi drivers sued the city last year for not enforcing regulations for the new services.

Colorado

Senate Bill 125 would place Lyft and uberX under limited state regulation, similar to California. The Colorado Public Utilities director says this would increase insurance rates statewide.

Dallas

A working group including taxi interests, Lyft. Uber and limo operators is helping rewrite city codes.

Maryland

Maryland SB 919 and HB 1160 would set controls on driver background checks, vehicle inspections and insurance that would allow Uber and others to operate.

Pittsburgh

Mayor Bill Pedato supports them and wants regulations similar to California’s.